Vibration actuated transfer device



R. HELM VIBRATION ACTUATED TRANSFER DEVICE Oct. 23, 1951 INVENTOR.

2 sHEETs--sl-IEET 1 ml /|M/ 2 ww, .525512555ifff 45t, u W 1W/VY 25., 5|. x ik.' A W 411 ifsm am- E Mm -l Filed Oct. 18, 1948 BY g ' Tm/VEX Oct. 23, 1951 R. HELM VIBRATION ACTUATED TRANSFER DEVICE 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1948 l INVENTOR. ./1'7? @abe/@ f/e/m Patented ct. 23, 195i UNITED STATES y.PA'IENT OFFICE VIBRATIONACTUATED TRANSFER DEVICE Robert Helm, Palo Alto, Galif., assignor, bydecree of distribution, to Helen Helm 'Application October 18, 1948, Serial No. 55,073

-18 Claims. (Cl. 74-88) The "present 'invention Arelates, vin .general to Broadly speak-ing,l itis the object of thepresent invention to .obviate 'theneed'for an auxiliary source. of powerito achieve this end. `More specifically, `the invention is Laimed, at utilizing' the vibration of4 the machnelitselfto move themachme.

To' this. end, .an important' object of theinvention .isto provide. a method Aand apparatus vfor resisting movement 'of a 'vibrating 'body' -to va greater degree in one direction thaniintheoppositedirection, .whereby the body will 'advance stepby step in the vdirection of least.resistance as.it vibrates.

Another object is to providemeansior producing a retrograde movement of the body whenever desired.

A'further object residesiinthe provision 'of apparatus `for institutingthe "step by step advance ofthe bodyatwill; Y Still 'another objective is `.to provide means for halting'the advance of the body, when once started, automatically without the need'for further supervision or control whenrthe body reaches a predetermined point.

Other objects, together with' .thei'features of novelty'by which the objectsare achieved, will appear in the course of thefollowing description of the invention. c Y y Inthe accompanying. drawings which form 4a part of'thejspecication 'andare to' be `read in conjunction" therewith, and in 'which 'like refer` ence numerals are employed.' to indicate :like parts of the Various views, Y

Fig. l is a Vside elevational view .ofthe .tietamper supported 'by a lifting device constructed accordingto theinvention, Y

Fig. 2 is an `enlargedcross Asectional-view taken along the line '2-2of 1" in 'theyl direction of the arrows,

Fig.'3 is `an exploded perspective v-iewshowing thejcbmponent parts "f Ithe valve assemblyas:- SOilted "Wthftherpiston `ofmyl device,

Figs.v 4 to '7 are schematic diagrams of the de- Q vice, Fig. 4 showing the piston in/its'lowermost position, Fig. 5 showing it withU the piston ascending, Fig. 6 showing the`piston in its uppermost'f position and Fig. 'showing it with the piston descending, and

Fig. 8 is a graph wherein load displacement is plotted against time, illustrating schematically' the character of thepistons movement.

understood by reference "to Fig. 2. `Its housing comprises a cylinder ID `closed-at'theNtopby `an end cap I2 `and at the bottom A`by kan'end cap l, both Aend pieces being bolted in p lace and formingwith the cylinder a ud tight enclosure. i

The cylinder is divided into 'upper ,and lower compartmentsl and i8 by arigid, d ome shaped partition 20 welded aboutits Vmargin vto the-inwill be explained presently.

In the lower "compartment vof the cylinder a piston 30"whose piston rod 32'extends'down-fy wardly'through a packinggland` 34 in the bot-'j tom cap. The piston is secured to the piston rod with a'shrink t and is sealed relative ,to the. interior ofthe cylinder by conventional ppiston rings 36. A series-of holes 38Y are drilled through thepiston parallel tothe piston rod, these being arranged in a circle about the rod and having their lower extremitiesrcovered by an annular valve plate 40.

As seen in Fig; '3, the Valve plate is `connected by radial arms 42 to an innercollar Alill. Under the valve'plateis a'sta'r-lshaped spring 16, these two members, together with a. backing washer 41', being securedfto the underside of the piston by rivets 48.' Thus assembled, it will be observed that the upwardly tensionedpoints of the star -spring bear against the underside of the annu-k lar'valve plate and hence maintain same .tight against theface of the piston in sealing relation to theholes 38. The lower compartment of the cylinder is provided with a npairof `liuid by-pass lines and 52;-the former having its 'upper end connected' into the^cylinder wall'at `a point immediately belowthe partitionj-Zllv and its lower Ven djconne'tdflito ih@ lcylifldronly .a :Short distance, therebelow, suclrdistance'howeverbeing suflicient The construction of my unit may readily be' to permit the piston to occupy a position intermediate the inlet and outlet of duct 50. By-pass 52 has its upper end connected into the cylinder Wall immediately below partition 20 and its lower end connected into the lower end of the cylinder a short distance above the bottom.

The latter by-pass line is provided with a balanced pressure type of valve having a slidable piston 54 adapted to cover the port 56 when the handle 58 is in the position illustrated and to uncover the port when the handle is pivoted upwardly as shown by the arrow. The valve housing is provided with a relief line 60 whereby the uid pressure on the top and bottom of the piston is substantially balanced; actually, of course, there is a slight excess of pressure on the bottom resulting from the somewhat smaller eiective area of the upper face'of the piston, but this is compensated for by the weight of the handle and by a light spring 62, so that the valve always will remain in the position to which it was last operated. i

Q'Ihrough the opening normally closed by filler plug 64 there is introduced into the cylinder oil or other suitable liquid in an amount sufficient to fill the cylinder substantially as shown. That is, the lower compartment is completely lled and, in the upper compartment, there is a volume of liquid not completely filling the compartment yet somewhat exceeding the volume of liquid displaced by the piston rod 32 when the piston is in its uppermost position.

For purposes of description it will be assumed that the vibrating instrumentality to be supported by my device is a tie tamper 66; the construction and operation of this instrument form no part of the present invention but it should be understood that it is a self-powered unit used in railroad construction and maintenance work for the lpurpose of tampering ties, its `mechanism being of such a nature as to cause the tool asa whole to vibrate in a more or less vertical direction. The unit is connected to the lower extremity of the piston rod 32 in any convenient fashion, for example by means of a yoke 68. The cylinder I of my device in turn is supported in any suitable fashion, it being understood that the bracket 'I8 and the ball and socket joint l2 are intended only to be illustrative of a suitable form of support.

The operation of the device now will be explained in connection with Figs. 4 to 8. Referring rst to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the weight of the tool connected to the piston rod 32 has drawn the piston down to a point near the bottom ofthe cylinder. neath the piston has no avenue of escape when the piston occupies the position shown and, being relatively incompressible, it prevents the piston from descending lower in the cylinder; since the piston never reaches the bottom of the cylinder, there is no possibility of damage to the check valve mechanism on the underside of the piston. Fig. 4 thus represents the lowermost position of the loaded piston, and so long as the tool or other instrument connected to the piston remains in the state of quietus, the parts will remain as illustrated.

Let it now be assumed that the tool is rendered active and that due to its vibration, it applies to the piston rod a longitudinal force urging same alternately up and down. The fluid in the cylinder offers no substantial resistance Vto upward movement of the piston inasmuch as it can escape from the upper end `of thecylinder through.Y the The liquid in the cylinder be- 4 open valve 54 and, passing downwardly, reenter the cylinder below the upwardly moving piston; moreover, as the piston is urged upwardly, any excess of iuid pressure on the upper side of the piston will open the check valve 40 relieving the pressure and allowing the piston to ascend while the liquid escapes downwardly through the apertures 38 into the space below the piston. After an upward stroke of the piston, the liquid likewise offers little resistance to downward movement of the piston when, on the succeeding power impulse, it is urged in that direction. That is to say, the liquid below the piston can escape through duct 52 and reenter the cylinder at the top From the foregoing it will be clear that with a vibratory force applied to the piston rod 32 while valve 54 is open as shown, the piston and the ,instrument carried thereby will oscillate up and down a short distance approximately as indicated by sections 14 and VI6 of the load displacement diagram, Fig. 8.

Assuming that it is desired now to elevate the vibrating tool, valve 54 is manually closed as l shown in Fig. 5. This makes it impossible for the piston to descend in the cylinder because there is no avenue of escape for the liquid below the piston; however, the piston still can ascend because the check valve 40 opens whenever an upward force is applied, allowing the liquid above the piston to now downwardly through apertures 38 thereby to make way for the piston. Accordingly, with each upward impulse applied to the piston rod by the vibrating tool, the piston ascends a short distance and there remains suspended, unable to drop back, until it is carried up another step by the succeeding impulse. In the last analysis, my device simply allows the tool to jump v up, catches and holds' it when it "endeavors to move back, then allows it to jump again on the next cycle of vibration. In effect, then, the tool walks up under its own power, advancing step by step as indicated by section 18 of the load displacement diagram, Fig. 8.

With each upward step there is, of course, an

increase in the liquid space below the piston and slowly flows through the bleeder opening 28 in accordance with the increasing volume occupied by the advancing piston rod. Such action is illustrated in Fig. 5.

If at any time during its ascent the vibrating instrument connected to the lower end of the piston rod is rendered inoperative so that it ceases to apply upward power impulses to the piston rod, it will be apparent that the piston will halt and remain in whatever position it then occupies. Even though there is a downward force due to the weight of the suspended instrument, it is impossible for the piston to descend in the cylinder so long as valve 54 remains closed, and accordingly the load is held in elevated position.

Assuming, however, that the instrument connected to the piston rod continues to vibrate,

75,fthc piston Will continue toVv travel Au pvsvlardly unl space'above 'the piston, the piston drops .-ba'ck' untilfitlcovers the opening at the lower endfof duct'E. The next upv-fard power impulseagainy lifts the pistonjafter which it once more drops back'fandso on, its mov'errient'k being "depicted by=s`ection Y8i? of the loaddisplacement diagram, Fig. 8.

Again ifthe vibrating instrmentfis rendered"p inoperative;- it will lremain suspended ein avstate of quietus'ina'smu'ch as'L the piston `cannetI descendfbelow the point 'where'V it Acovers the lend-of is Vonly'jn'ecessary to manually fopen 'v'alvefl as shown'finf-Fig. 7, whereupon the liquid below the piston flows through duct V52 and returns tothe cylinder above the pistonwhile the'latter moves r iris4 'desired to lower the' tool; however; ita

downwardly. "The rate of descent can of` coursebe""coritrolledf` by the valve. Suchy downward movement will take place upon the opening of thevalve whether 'the tool isvibrating or' not, thefd'scent'being at auniform rate iftherfis novibration Aand being as indicated 'at a2l in Figli" 30 Sif the 'contrary is true. Y Y Y '-jIneither case, asthe piston rod 32 moves out of'fthe cylinder, the liquid capacity of ther cylinderj' increases proportionately ,and therefore valvf22 opens as shownin Fig. '7 to permit liquid in the 'reservoir i6 to dowdownwa'rdly, pre'- venting'the creation of a partial vacuum above the piston, which might otherwise impedethe descent of the device. When thepiston reaches the.--p osition shownin' Fig.- 4, it covers the inlet`llv` to'dfuct-EZ and accordingly'its'descent is halted v by-fthe cushion of liquidremaining 'below `the piston.

l-Altliou'gh for' purposes of description a vvtie tamper has" been considered to be'the instrumeht-fsupportedby myflifting device,l it 'will be self-evident that the Yoperation would be? the same if a jack hammer, a spike driver or'any otherA type vof vibrating tool were substituted. It` isfnot essential, asa matter of fact, that'they vibratior'iv ofthe attached instrument takeplace along the axis coinciding precisely with-the axis ofthe cylinder; so long as some component-of i thevvibr'ation is along the axis of the cylinder,

thedevice'will function satisfactorily. No matter how much or how little the instrument moves up-'on'each vibratory cycle, it will be caught and held so that it will progress upwardly stepby step. Y

'Wh'ile especially useful as alifting device, my unit obviously can be inclined fromthe vertical to Lproduce a lateral movement as well, if this isi/desired. Other modifications will be apparent to"v those versed in the art, and inasmuch as many possible embodinfientsV of `Ythe invention can bef madefwithout departing from the scope thereof, itis' 'to 'be understood that all matter herein set forth-orrshown in the accompanying drawings is tol-be interpreted as illustrative and not 'in a limiting sense. l

'Fromthe foregoing it will'be seen'that this invention is one well adapted to attain all, .the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth, together withfother advantages which are obvious .and whicliare inherent to the apparatus.

-fItshould be" understood thatce'rtain features and subcombinations are of utility and maybe employed without reference to other 'features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by c 5c and yis within the scope of the appended claims.

:Havingthus described Vthe invention, I claim:

iiuid therein, the other of said members come prising a piston slidable in the tube, the stroke y of the piston in the tube exceeding the normal "amplitude of free vibration of said prime mover,`

saidv piston having a port through whichriiuid` can flow from one side of the piston to the other as the piston travels vthrough the tube, and a vcheck valve associated with said port to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough in one direction.

2. In combination with a prime mover which is movable in space as a unit, said prime mover eiective when in operation to vibrate at a substantially uniform frequency, a device for shift- "ing said prime mover in space for distances eX- ceeding the normal amplitude of free vibration of the prime mover, comprising Aa stationary member, a movable member connected to the primer mover for vibration therewith, one of said members comprising an enclosed tube with hydraulic iiuid therein, the other of said meinbers comprising a piston slidable in the tube, the stroke of the piston inthe tube exceeding the normal amplitude of free vibration of said '""prime mover, a duct connecting the fluid space on one side of the piston with the fluid space on the other side, and a check valve associated with said duct to control the now of fluid there- 3.'In" combination, a pair of relatively movable members, ,one comprising an enclosed upright tube and the other comprising a piston in" the tube, means supporting .one of said mem- .be-rs,` a prime mover mounted on the other member fand having substantially its entire weight carriedtherebvsaid prime mover effective when operatingtovibrate at a. substantially uniform frequency .and-consequently urgesaid last mem- `vberalternately up and down, hydraulic iiuid in e"said-,tube on both sides ofY said piston, a duct connecting the fluid space on one side of the piston with the duid space en the other side, thereby to permit flow of fluid and movement offithe .pistonjthrough thev tube, and a check "valve'asso'ciated with said duct to prevent the owof fluid therethrough' in such a direction as to oppose downwardmovement ofvsaid last member but not upward movement thereof.

.4.. In combination, a pair of relatively movable reservoir, a uid passageway between the reservoir and the interior of said tube, a check valve associated with said passageway to control the flow of fluid therethrough, and a restricted passageway between the reservoir and the tube through which uid can now when said lastvalve is closed.v

5. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members, one comprising an enclosed tube and the other comprising a piston in the tube, means anchoring one of the members against movement, a prime mover connected to the other member, said prime mover eective when in operation to vibrate at a substantially uniform frequency and consequently urge said last member alternately in opposite directions relative the anchored member, hydraulic uid in said tube on both sides of said piston, a duct connecting thev fluid space on one side of the piston with the fluid space on the other side, thereby to permit now of uid and movement of the piston through the tube, a check valve associated with said duct to prevent the flow of iiuid therethrough in one direction but not the other, a second duct through which fluid can pass from one side of the piston to the other, and a valve operable to open and close said second duct at will.

6. In combination, an enclosed tube with a piston therein, hydraulic fluid on both sides of the piston, said piston having a fluid passageway connecting the iiuid space on one side of the piston with the iiuid space on the other side, a check valve associated with said passageway to control the flow of uid therethrough, a by-pass duct outside of the tube having its ends communicating with the tube adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a valve operable to open and close said duct at will, and a second by-pass duct outside of the tube having its ends connected into the tube at points spaced axially apart a distance substantially equal to the axial dimension of the piston, one of said points being adjacent one end of the tube.

7. A combination as in claim 6, wherein one end of said first by-pass duct is spaced axially inward from one end of the tube.

8. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members, one comprising an enclosed tube and the other comprising a piston in the tube, a source of power connected to one of said members urging same alternately in opposite directions relative the other member, hydraulic fluid in said tube on both sides of said piston, a duct connecting the uid space on one side of the piston with the fluid space on the other side thereby to permit flow of fluid and movement of the piston through the tube, a check valve associated with said duct to prevent the dow of iiuid therethrough in one direction but not the other, and a permanently open by-pass duct outside the tube having its ends communicating with the tube at points spaced axially apart by a distance substantially equal to the axial thickness of said piston.

9, In combination, a pair of relatively movable members, one comprising an enclosed tube and the other comprising a piston having a piston rod extending through a fluid seal at one end of the tube, a source of power connected to one of said members urging same alternately in opposite directions relative the other member, hydraulic uid in said tube on both sides of the piston, a duct connecting the fluid space on one side of the piston with the fluid space on the other side, a check valve associated with said duct 8 to control the flow of fluid therethrough, a fluid tight reservoir, a uid passageway between the reservoir and interior of said tube, a check valve associated with said passageway to control the f flow of fluid therethrough, a restricted passageway between the reservoir and the tube through which uid can ow when said last valve is closed, a by-pass duct outside the tube having its ends communicating with the tube adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and a valve operable to open and close said duct at will.

10. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members, one comprising an enclosed tube and the other comprising a piston having a piston rod extending through a fluid seal at one end of the tube, a source of power connected to one' of said members urging same alternately in opposite directions relative the other member, hydraulic iiuid in said tube on both sides of the .piston, a duct connecting the iiuid space on one side of the piston with the iiuid space on theother side, a check valve associated with said duct to control the flow of fluid therethrough, a uid tight reservoir, a fluid passageway between the reservoir and interior of said tube, a check valve associated'with said passageway to control theflow of fluid therethrough, a restricted passageway between the reservoir and the tube through which uid can ow when said last valve is said passageway to control the ow of duid thereccl closed, a by-pass duct outside the tube having its ends communicating with the tube adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a valve operable to open and close said duct at will, and a second by-pass duct outside of the tube having its ends connected into the tube at points spaced axiallyy apart a distance substantially equal to the axial dimension of the piston, one of said points being adjacent one end of the tube.

11. In combination, a pair of relatively movable members, one comprising an enclosed upright tube and the other comprising a piston having a piston rod extending through a fluid seal at one end of the tube, means supporting one of said mmebers, a vibrating body mounted on the other member and having substantially its entire weight carried thereby, said body eiective due to its vibration to urge said last member alternately up and down, hydraulic fluid in said tube on both sides of the piston, a duct connecting the fluid space on one side of the piston with the uid space on the other side, a check valve associated with said duct to control the flow of duid therethrough, a fluid tight reservoir, a fluid passageway between the reservoir and the interior of the tube, a check valve associated with through, and -a restricted passageway between the reservoir and the tube through which fluid can flow when said last valve is closed.

having a transverse partition subdividing same into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a piston in the lower compartment having a piston rod extending downwardly through a V.iiuid seal in the lower end of the tube, hydraulic fluid space above the piston in said lower com- 12. In combination, an enclosed upright tube partment with the fluid space below the piston, and a check valve to control the ow of fluid through said duct.

13. In combination, a stationary support, a

prime mover below said support, said prime mover depending from said support on a tension link which extends downwardly from the support to the prime mover and transmits the full weight of the prime mover to said support, said tension link comprising a pair of vertically elongated members one connected at its upper end to the support and the other connected at its lower end to the prime mover, said other member being freely movable in an upward direction relative to said one member, a connection between the members substantially blocking downward movement of said other member relative to said one member, and said prime mover being effective when in operation to urge said other member alternately up and down due to its vibration, whereby said tension link is adapted to draw the prime mover upwardly toward said support step by step under the influence of the vibration of the prime mover.

14. In combination with a body vibrating at substantially uniform frequency, at least a component of its vibration being in a vertical direction, a stationary support spaced above the body, a tension link depending from the support and carrying said body at its lower end whereby the entire weight of said body is imposed upon said support through said link, said tension link comprising a pair of vertically elongated members one connected at its upper end to the support and the other connected at its lower end to said body, said other member being freely movable in an upward direction relative to said one member, and a connection between said members substantially blocking downward movement of said other member relative to said one member.

15. In a combination as in claim 14, means operable at will for disabling said connection, thereby to permit said body to draw said other member downwardly relative said one member under the influence of gravity.

16. In combination, a stationary support, a prime mover below said support, said prime mover depending from said support on a tension link which extends downwardly from the support to the prime mover and transmits the full weight of the prime mover to said support, said tension link comprising an upright cylinder member with a piston member therein and hydraulic fluid filling the cylinder member on both sides of the piston member, one of said members connected to said support and the other member connected to said prime mover, said prime mover e'ective when in operation to urge said other member alternately up and' down relative to said one member due to its vibration, a duct connecting the uid space on one side of said piston member with the fluid space on the other side, said hydraulic fluid being adapted to W freely through said duct in such a direction as to permit said other member to mo-ve upwardly relative to said one member, and a check valve for said duct substantially preventing iiow of the hydraulic iluid therethrough in the yreverse direction.

1'7. In combination with a body vibrating at substantially uniform frequency, at least a component of its vibration being in a vertical direction, a stationary support spaced above the body, a tension link depending from the support and carrying said body at its lower end whereby the entire weight of said body is imposed on said support through said link, said tension link comprising an upright cylinder member with a piston member therein and hydraulic uid filling the cylinder member on both sides of the piston member, one of said members connected to said support and the other connected to said body whereby said other member is urged alternately up and down relative said one member due to the vibration of said body, a duct connecting the fluid space on one side of said piston member with the uid space on the other side, said hydraulic iiuid being adapted to flow freely through said duct in such a direction as to permit said other member to move upwardly relative to said one member, and a check valve for said duct substantially preventing flow of the hydraulic fluid therethrough in the reverse direction.

18. In a combination as in claim 17, a second duct through which nuid can pass freely in either direction from one side of the piston member to the other side, and a manually operable shut-off valve for said second duct.

I ROBERT HELM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES 'PATENTS Number Name y Date 982,008 Knapp Jan. 17, 1911 1,492,328 Lang Apr. 29, 1924 2,068,578 Stronach Jan. 19, 1937 2,149,040 Binder et al Feb. 28, 1939 2,251,379 Van der Hof Aug. 5, 1941 

